posted Apr 28th, 2010 - The 2010 competition season began with several major events, which deserved and required a lot of attention by the NSL News. Other smaller events happened almost unnoticed, although those are the ones that have actually built the foundation of the national and international NSL Network.

One of the events earlier this year was the season opener of the Georgia Skydiving League at the beginning of April. Five teams competed in the AA Class at Skydive The Farm. This does not seem to be a lot, but it actually stands for a serious upswing in one of the oldest leagues in the USA.

The Georgia Skydiving League was founded in 1997 and is one of the three leagues that joined forces for the National Skydiving League in 1998, together with Florida and Texas. The GSL and the NSL Network grew together year by year until activities began to slow down in Georgia. Participation decreased year by year between 2003 and 2006 until there were no more GSL meets scheduled in 2007 and 2008.

Things changed in Georgia with the beginning of the 2009 season. Steve Chalfant picked up the GSL ball and played it again with a group of dedicated 4-way fans who were motivated to bring back the Georgia Skydiving League to where it used to be in the late 90s and early in the new millenium. He was mostly supported by Nicole Ippolito, Anthony Stone and former Mr. Pink member Mike Gruwell who now runs the Chuting Star rigging loft and on-line shop.

This year began with even more support for Steve Chalfant, Nicole Ippolito and Mike Gruwell who all came back with the same purpose. One of the most experienced and skilled 4-way competitors in Georgia, Scott Franklin, has become even more active in supporting the league and its young talent.

He competed at this year's season opener with the winning Omega lineup (Scott Franklin, Mike Gruwell, Greg Siebe, Nick Walker-Bates, Ben Griswold and Edvaldo Cruz on camera) and enjoyed the time that he spent with new GSL competitors.

Scott Franklin remembered his own days of learning 4-way competition when he spoke with the NSL News. He started with the DeLand Chain Gang in 1999. He, Valerie Walton and Jim Goempel were already looking for a 4th member in 1998 and had to wait until January 1999 before the Chain Gang would attend the first meet. Kat Huntington filled the open slot at the January meet of the Florida Skydiving League. The Chain Gang started with a 6.2 average in the Advanced Class of 1999.

Scott Franklin continued to travel from Georgia to Florida for a while, and the Chain Gang, now with Jason Fisk as a permanent member, also attended meets of the Georgia Skydiving League. Scott Franklin's first team was well prepared for the first trip to the USPA Nationals in 1999 after attending a record number of 12 meets (6.2 - 8.2 - 9.0 - 8.2 - 8.5 - 8.7 - 8.3 - 8.5 - 9.3 - 9.2 - 10.5 - 10.5) in Florida.

The Chain Gang also peaked at the right time and with all this competition experience. The great efforts were rewarded with silver medals for the 11.3 average at the USPA Nationals 1999 in the Intermediate Class.

Scott Franklin with the Chain Gang at the June Meet of the Florida Skydiving League 1999

Only another team from Florida scored higher. Tonic, with current Teiwaz member Bob Schindler and coach Craig Buxton, skyleague.com's web genius, won the gold medals. The Chain Gang defeated archrival Nemesis from Georgia (4th). Convergence of the Texas Skydiving League won the bronze medals.

Scott Franklin continued with the DeLand Chain Gang in 2000 and moved up into the AAA/Advanced Class competition. Kim Griffin replaced Valerie Walton, and the Chain Gang was almost as busy as in 1999, with attendance at seven meets of the Florida Skydiving League (10.0 - 10.8 - 10.5 - 10.3 - 12.0 - 11.7 - 12.5) and two additional meets (9.7 - 11.3) in Georgia. The first year in the AAA Class ended with a 7th place of 30 teams and a 10.7 average at the USPA Nationals 2000.

The Chain Gang discontinued at the end of the team's third year, and Scott Franklin made the next step up. He joined a player coach team with Joey Jones, together with Jamie Johnson and Brian Johnson. Touch of Majik competed in the Open Class at the USPA Nationals 2001 and finished in 6th place with a 15.9 average.

It was a big project for Scott Franklin in 2001, and he needed time to recover financially the following year. However, he could only stay away for a year before he came back on a more casual level though. Teiwaz offered an opportunity in 2002 to keep in touch with the 4-way community without much training and efforts. Scott Franklin joined Teiwaz in 2002 and still holds one of the early member numbers (11).

Teiwaz with Scott Franklin, Kurt Gaebel, Robert Healy, Robert Chromy and Nat Hill on camera competed at the USPA Nationals 2003, without serious preparations and with a lot of fun at a few FSL meets, and finished in 9th place of the Open Class competition with a 13.9 average.

The easy Teiwaz adventure in 2003 motivated Scott Franklin again to do a little bit more, and three other Teiwaz members (Alex Pincus - #54, Robert Chromy - #15, Ron Hill - #13) competed for DeLand Mojo at the USPA Nationals 2004. Ray Dutch (Teiwaz #32) filmed this lineup that finished in 9th place of the Open Class competition with a 13.6 average.

Scott Franklin with Teiwaz at the July Meet of the Florida Skydiving League 2003

DeLand Mojo turned into Dallas Mojo when Ryan Smith and Mariann Kramer from Texas joined forces with Scott Franklin and Alex Pincus in 2005. The new Mojo lineup finished in 14th place with a 12.4 average.

Then it was finally time for Scott Franklin, who still lives and works in Atlanta, to focus on his family life with wife Sher and two adopted sons. He took a real break from serious 4-way training and competition after the 2005 season. He still attended big-way events and continued with recreational skydiving. However, he has staid away from any serious team commitments.

This does not mean at all that he is not as passionate about 4-way training and competition any longer as he has always been. His current comeback in Georgia is in fact very benficial for the new teams and competitors in the GSL region, as Scott Franklin has the natural ability to transfer his passion and enthusiasm to others.

The GSL group that is currently bringing the league back to life consists of very strong, experienced and passionate skydivers. They already attracted five teams to the first meet of the 2010 season, which is the highest number of teams at a GSL meet since 2005.

Steve Chalfant is now even going a step further and brings the GSL meets back to other dropzones in Georgia. The GSL had meets at several different places in the early years. The comeback in 2009 was launched at Skydive The Farm only. This year, Skydive Monroe will also host a meet, and the GSL message will be delivered to more skydivers in Georgia. The NSL News will follow up with information after the May meet in Monroe.